Henry kroeger



(No Model.)

H. KROEGER. GAPODASTRO BAR FOR PIANO FRAMES.

No. 351,326. 7 Patented Oct. 19, 1886. I Jig-1.

U ITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

HENRY Kaonenn, or new roan, n. r.

CAPODASTRO-BAR FOR PIANO-FRAMES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,326,6ated0ctober19r1886. Application filed April 15, 1886. Serial No. 198,935.(No model.)

strings between the bridge and th e tuning-pins,

to which the strings are fastened. The invention consists in a barhaving its under side provided with a slightly-rounded ridge, againstwhich the strings rest and exert an upward or outward pressure, said barbeing provided at suitable intervals with feet which are rested againstthe frame of the piano, and are of such size as to hold the ridge tancefrom the face of the frame of the piano.

Screws are passed through holes in the bar at the feet, and the stringsrest against the ridge at the inner side of the bar between said feet. 5In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an upright piano withmy improved capodastro bar, parts of the casing being broken out. Fig. 2is an end view of the piano, parts being broken out and others insection. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the capodastro-bar and bridge.Fig. et is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the same onl'ine w a,Fig. 8; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged crosssectional view of the same online y y. Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts.

The bar A, which is made of cast metal, is provided on its under orinner side with a slightly-curvcd ridge, B, against which the strings Grest "with an upward. or outward pressure, said strings being fastenedto the tuning-pins D, driven in the frame E, in the usual manner.

The bar A is located between the pins 1) and the bridge-piece F, seeured to the frame E, and having an outwardly or upwardly-projectingflange, G, on the outer edge of which. the strings 0 rest with adownward or inward pressure.

Thebar A. is provided on its under or inner side, at intervals, with thefeet If, which are on the inner side of the bar ata certain disarrangedabout at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bar, and have agreater length than the width of the bar, for the purpose ofdistributing the bearing-surface of the baron the frame F over as largea surface as possible. The bearing-surfaces of the feet H are a shortdistance from the ridge Bot the bar A, so that when the bearing-surfacesof the said feet rest on the front of the frame E the ridge B, againstwhich the strings rest, will be a short distance frornthe front of theframe. Screws J are passed through holes of the bar Aat the feet H andscrewed into the frame E.

The strings 0 pass under the capodastro-bar in the spaces between thefeet H, a number of strings being between each bearing-foot H. Thebridge-piece F, which may have its flange in its inner or outeredge-that is to say, on the edge nearest. to the bar A or farthest fromthe same is an independent piece, and is fastened on the frame E byscrews. Both bearing-sections of the feet H rest on the front of theframe E, as shown in Fig. 4, or one of the bearing-surfaces may, rest onthe bridgepiece F at that edge opposite the one provided with the flangeG, as shown in Fig. 5.

By providing the bar in the manner 'described, the strings are heldfirmly and taut, and the part between the flange G and the tuning-pins Dcannot vibrate, which is very desirable, as I have found that thequality of thetone is materially improved by holding the strings asrigidly and firmly as possible. As all thefeet of the bar rest on theframe of the piano, and as all the feet have the samehcight, all thestrings throughout the registers at which the bars are provided willhave the same bearing, and thus the quality of the tone will be even.The shape of the bar A and bridgepiece F conforms to the shape of therow of tuning-pins. As I provide the holes for the fastening-screws J atthose parts of the bar A at which the feet are located, the said screwsdo not interfere with the strings, as the strings are all passed underthe bar between the feet, as stated above.

The said bar may be provided .in grand, square, or upright pianos.

Having th us described. in y i n veinti'on, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. In a piano, the conihination,with afraine,

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01 a capodastrebar provided on its underside with a ridge against whichthe strings rest, and at suitable intervals with feet which restdirectly 011 the surface of the frame, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a piano, of a capodastie-bar pror'ided on itsunder side with a ridge forming the bearing-surface for the strings,feet on the bar at suitable intervals, [0 said l'eet resting directly onthe face ol' the frame and provided with screw-holes, and screws passedthrough theholes in the feet and into the fame, substantially as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in pl'es- I5 ence of two snbscribing; witnesses.

HENRY KROEGER. Witnesses:

Frzrrz H L' J'LER, Nrcomns FREUNI).

